congaplace.com

Isla is now known for a lot of percussionists and they have a natural deep sound. As Volcano did, it would be nice to be able to put some remo skins on an Isla drum.

I kinda doubt Mario would ever consider such a thing. And his drums have specific sizes/dimensions-- he built them for their sound capabilities, not for being able to fit mass-produced synthetic heads on. But you could try to e-mail him. I don't think Mario monitors this board.

What a crazy idea putting remo heads on Islas , You be hard push to find any plastic heads to go anywhere near this type of Tumbadora built completely different to mass produced factory Congas. am i right guys ?

Oh and for the record Mario does look in from time to time I asked him.

Marco

The Isla tumbadoras have a beautiful, deep, old school type of sound to them. I think putting plastic heads on them would run contrary to everything that Islas are supposed to be. Just my opinion

maximiano wrote:it would be nice to be able to put some remo skins on an Isla drum.

as nice as topping a fine italian, indian or libanese recipee with a layer of ketch-up

It is not a question of taste or if it changes the philosophy of the Islas. It is a question of be able to do that.
I spoke with Mario and he told me that cherry's are better to crisp sounds and to a live performance with electric instruments because cherry drums play louder. So...if you have canoe (my case) and you need to play with loud instruments one of the chances that you could have is fiberskyn because it has a cracking sound (less warm too).

Volcano have a traditional wood characteristic and they can fit in fiberskyn. A few people will do that because they have a loud sound but in a tropical weather fiberskyn holds the tune more easily

Why not just mic your congas and get the best of both worlds: all the volume you want and yet retaining the warm, deep sound of natural skins?

Even some the world's best (or best-known) conga players, such as Giovanni Hidalgo, Luis Conte, Raul Rekow and Poncho Sanchez (whether they use natural or synthetic skins), inevitably do so.

I know a guy that plays a Volcano with a Remo head. It's a good sounding drum for sure.
Not my favorite sound though, I prefer the Isla sound, but I do like the Volcano

One thing for sure, the mirror polish and finishing of the Volcano is a lot different than
Mario's rough around the edge look. The two makers are really going for different looks
and sounds.

Volcano drums look beautifull!

does any body know if the prices are still really high?
They make nice conga, and bongos.
But i remember they were the most expensive drums out there.
More expensive than Skin on skin, and Mathew Smith's

I would like to play one, but they are out of the reach of most people.

Isla's are more about high quality in sound,durability, and authenticity to the instrument,than looks.
Mario really test each drum. He likes to stay true to the instrument.

I dont think he would consider making sizes, to fit remo skins.
Because he likes the tradition of percussions, he knows he's history, and the drums are really unique.
And true to the cuban sound of congas.

*

To the original poster--- to reiterate: Mario designed the diminsions of his congas for the sound that they produce. It isn't too likely that the head diameters will actually match any available synthetic skin, and if they do--- it would be pure coincidence.

When I visited the shop, Mario told me that he made several sets and scrapped them out simply because they didn't produce exactly the sound he was going for.... even though the drums were very nice.

Hey salseroboricua . I Just got of the phone this minuite speaking to mario who is as has been said before a true pilgrim to the tradition dedicated to the instrument .
I am now awaiting a photo of my soon to be babbies

I became a grandpa last week which was a first time for me

and now I await my next delivery Isla `s

Thanks for sharing the pic I can now sleep

marco

*

looking good, SalseroBoricua71.

as far as a remo on a isla, YOU MUST BE CRAZY!!!

just don't tell him if you plan on buying some drums from him.

*